00:00:00 John Daub: Good morning everybody. This is the Hotaluna, the space boat as you can see behind me, which is pretty cool. I wanted to ride this with Peter von Gomm a couple months ago during cherry blossom season but we missed it. This time we're on it, joined by my nieces Coralie and Lila. Lila, say hello to the world. Hello world.

00:00:32 John Daub: We're making a trip from Hinode Pier at Hamarikyu Gardens, going underneath the Rainbow Bridge to Odaiba, about 20 minutes. Momentarily the boat will depart. Until then, enjoy Hinode Pier. I don't see anybody else getting on. Above there you can see the monorail to Haneda Airport. Cool!

00:01:18 John Daub: I've taken this boat many times. It departs from Asakusa. Here's the ticket: Hotaluna, 1560 yen, about $15. It used to be cheaper, but it's still a good deal for an hour of entertainment. This is the space boat with one big window because it goes through the Sumidagawa (Sumida River) under about 30 or 40 bridges. The glass lets you look up at them—each has history.

00:02:28 John Daub: They went down. Are you cold? You think it's going to rain today? Probably, with these gray overcast skies. Over here is an unusual boat—looks like gozabune (covered passenger boat). Bune means ship in Japanese. It's bright red, probably a restaurant boat. Across the harbor is Kachidoki, and that tower is the Olympic Village being built with all those cranes.

00:03:42 John Daub: There's the captain—shouldn't he be behind the wheel? Hey, I've been abandoned. The family's down there. Oh, he's casting off. Here we go, underneath the Rainbow Bridge. It might get windy, so audio could be rough, but the visuals will blow you away. Coralie and Lila are sitting down there. Are you ready? Look, here it is—wait for it. There it is! Totally awesome. This is Tokyo Bay. It's getting chilly up here, but the sun's peeking out. If you're gonna go to Odaiba, no better time than the present.

00:05:17 John Daub: There's the monorail to the airport again. Stephanie, smash that like button—let's get 100 likes. We hit 100 in 15 seconds, pretty crazy. The Hotaluna is aiming towards the Rainbow Bridge. I'll go inside after we pass under, but it might get windy. It's heading right in the sweet spot—gonna look up under the skirt.

00:06:13 John Daub: Straight ahead is the Fuji TV tower with the big globe—looks like a Lego set. Now we're close to the Olympic Village cranes. Sorry about the wind affecting the audio; the boat's picking up steam. This reminds me of the Abashiri livestream with bad signal a mile out. On the left is the Sumida River around Kachidoki island, and that's Toyosu where the new Tsukiji fish market is. But today we're under the Rainbow Bridge. Thanks for joining this quest—Peter von Gomm and I tried months ago.

00:07:28 John Daub: A little baka (foolish), this livestream. Rene, is Catherine coming to Japan? Peter von Gomm and I would welcome her. I've been doing more meetups—like last-minute with Patreon supporters from India, Germany, and the US for 30 minutes of photos and chat. Varun says 720p—high definition! This is the Hotaluna from Asakusa to Odaiba, quick stop at Hinode Pier, now in Tokyo Bay middle.

00:08:53 John Daub: Coralie, how do you feel about the boat trip? Pretty good? How many stars out of five? Three? Tough critic. To get five stars, maybe it needs to go underwater. It looks like it could. He said if they wanted, but it's slow. Would be cool. Give us a warning horn. It's going under now. There's the Ferris wheel at VenusFort shopping mall.

00:10:05 John Daub: What do you think of the space boat? Fun so far. This is my brother visiting Japan—so far so good? Coralie's picky—likes cheeseburgers from Burger King or McDonald's. Maybe sushi later? They have hamburger sushi—like a meatball. We're close to the Rainbow Bridge; you can see cars. Helicopter—probably Peter von Gomm to a job. Hey Peter! Just kidding. He's a voice artist, one of the best—my friend.

00:11:41 John Daub: Got my iPhone for the thumbnail under the bridge. Oh, lower area—not the middle. Getting closer to Odaiba. Here we go—look up! This is cool, awesome. Only see this from a boat. Check it out—nice. Gotta get a thumbnail. Massive bridge towering over us. Our Kronos Vipers here—awesome. See a dive boat coming in. Thinking of Hawaiian burger—will post pic on Instagram.

00:13:41 John Daub: We've gone under the Rainbow Bridge. That small island had anti-aircraft guns shooting down American bombers in the 1940s. You can walk there, see divots from the turrets—some history. What are you on, hamburger? You don't want one? You've been talking hamburgers, now no? Oh, steak? Spoiled rotten. Steaks aren't cheap in Japan.

00:14:42 John Daub: This is the Hotaluna entering the harbor. Ren JB, ask my brother tips for traveling in Japan with kids. Mr. Vogel, suggestions near Hinode Pier? Hamarikyu Gardens (Hamarikyu Park) is awesome, right near the pier—highly recommend. Monorail to Haneda too. Advice for kids? Leave them home. Have them try food first—not like Japan's. Build into it slowly; raw fish shocks. Even Japanese moms wait till 3-4 years old for sushi due to bacteria risk.

00:16:15 John Daub: You learned chopsticks—training with flashcards? Don't leave kids with John. Stay a year, fluent in Japanese. Brother wears glasses, I don't—better eyesight, but going blind soon. In front: Decks Tokyo Beach on left—like Baltimore Harbor boardwalk. Right is Aqua City with hamburger place, but she wants steak. Inside is Joyopolis, Sega arcade theme park. Showed retro at Mikado before; this is modern games.

00:18:23 John Daub: Sharp eyes see the beach—I walked from Rainbow Bridge six months ago livestream (link in description). Train crossing now. Walk across bridge, along beach to Decks, get a drink—view back to city incredible. Only beach in Tokyo city—else Enoshima or Zushi Beach in Kanagawa. Target sunny day. Young kids hard—North Americans freak at raw fish unless grown up on sushi.

00:19:55 John Daub: Grand Nikko Hotel—cool stay for city view back at Tokyo, Rainbow Bridge lit with rainbows. Shinjuku too, but this is central. Check Sega Joyopolis—maybe video, no Wi-Fi inside. Kawaii Monster Cafe for kids—colored food, performances. Kids want hamburgers, changed to steak—nice lunch. Not best day at Odaiba—boat 20% full, lots of space. Couldn't dock yet.

00:22:30 John Daub: Replica Statue of Liberty—better view soon. Boat back to Asakusa. Space boat number two. Amazing. Help me get out. Thanks for plug. Pillow to Nosh with Peter von Gomm. Birds like Toby (crow) in disguise—watch step, gross duty. Two space boats, different layout. Inside tour: Fuji TV from here. Off the boat—gangway up. Last Rainbow Bridge view.

00:25:16 John Daub: Line—no rush. Cooler today—jacket good. Refreshments: cappuccino, gelato, mojito, nachos. Take to Gundam—forgot they redid statue! Toby here—watch step. Off—arigato. Leave pillow as housewarming? Clean apartment, leave pillow—freak next tenants. Bought Japanese lap pillow livestream last week—unique.

00:27:53 John Daub: One look at Hotaluna. Coralie, 3 stars before—now? 4 stars for smooth ride. Not always space boat—Peter von Gomm and Joji didn't get it last time. Thanks for 30-minute livestream showing Odaiba. They're getting vending drinks—use Pasmo. No Pasmo—cash. Compliments of viewers. Lemon-orange water, yogurt flavor—ew, but best ever? Dead zone signal.

00:30:14 John Daub: Thanks for livestreams—use for nice lunch. Beach nice in summer, depressing today. Mom jet-lagged at hotel. Boat back to Asakusa. First family time in Japan—big deal, not work. But Only in Japan Go brings 400-500 viewers along—cool sharing. See Statue of Liberty, Aqua City, Joyopolis, Gundam—pics on Instagram. Last beach view. Got five stars from Coralie! Bye everybody—let's eat.